Spring structure



n. H. VAN HovE. SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION. FILED APR. 28,1921.

1-,424,744 Patented'Aug. 1, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

n.,H.vAN Ho'vE. SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. 192|.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DESIRE H. VAN HOVE, F JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO REYNOLDS SPRING- COMPANY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Fatented Aug. 1, 19222.

Application :filed April 28, 1921. Serial No. 465,102.

T 0` all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Dnsinn H. VAN Hovn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements i Spring Structures, of

i which the following-isa specication.

This invention rel tes to spring structures for the backs of carseats orthe like.

One object of the invention is to provide a structure of the character stated, designed particularly to reduce the quantity of upholstering material usually employed in structures of the present character.

Another object resides in the provision of a back spring structure embodying among other characteristics, means whereby to prevent the sagging of the upper edge of the structure incident to weight to which the upper edges of the backs are subjected by virtueof people sitting on' the same and also to prevent bulging or crowding of the edges of the frames during use or during the upholstering process. n

A still further object is to provide 'a re'- silient pliable soft spring structure for the backs of car or other seats which possess considerable pliability or softness for the ease and comfort ofthe rider.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts' hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

ln the drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures; i

Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of the invention. l

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view.

Figure 4 is a detail lfragmentary view, illustrating the connection of the stays and braces with the lower edge of the front frame. l y y Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the back is shown as having a relatively flat back portion and a transversely curved or rounded front portion, with the front merging in its curvature from the front to the rear frame so as to provide a curved or rounded upper edge for the structure. Theback frame Imay be of any suitable character, but, as shown, it is composed of front, back and end U-shaped sheet metal sections 5, with all of the sections terminating short of one another at the corners of the back. The character 6 indicates spring-supporting bars, in the channels of which, and in the channels of the back frame sections 5, the springs of the structure are fitted by compression of the bars to effect a rm connection'between the base convolutions ofthe springs and the springsupporting bars, and the back frame. y

The back and the spring-supporting.bars arel braced by suitable braces 7, the ends of which are secured in the channel-shaped front and rear back sections 5 inthe same manner as are the base convolutions of the springs secured therein. As many of these brace wires 7 may be employedr as may be U shaped necessary, andif desired these brace wires 7 may be secured to the base convolutions of intersecting springs, as indicated at 8. Clips 9, of any suitable type, may connect adjacent spring-supporting bars 6 through the corresponding base convolutions of the springs. y

The front or inner frame l() is preferably composed of wire and its upper edge lies preferably in a plane lower than the upper edge of the back frame. This front frame is preferably formed upon a transverse curvature, as shown.

The springs of the structure lare preferably arranged in rows and the top row of springs extending longitudinally of the structure are preferably of a dilferent shape than the remaining springs. -Each spring ll of the top row is of substantially barrelshape. The remaining longitudinal rows of roo springs l2 are shown as preferably being o A wire 14 is secured to the lower portions of the .barrel-shaped row of springs intermediate the ends of the latter. As show-n, the wire 14 is connected to two adjacent intermediate coils of the barrel-shaped springs by means of suitable clips 15 and the ends of the wire 14 are directed downwardly, as at 16, and inwardly, as ,at 17 `and clip-pecl, as at 18 and 19, respectively, to the end spring of the uppermost row of doubleconical springs. The Aconnection of this wire 14 with .the top row-of springs and with the end springs of the row immediately therebeneath .is such as to provide for maintenance of the top barrel-shaped springs in an upwardly sprung condition to take on the re uired curvature.

P eop e sometimes sity or lean with more or less force against .the upper edge of the backs of car and other seats and when this is done, there isa tendency for the upper edge of the structure to sag. I therefore connect a lplurality of stays 20 with .the aforesaid wire 14 and with the lower edge of the inner frame, .as shown, so that upon weight or pressure bein-g brought to bear Lon the top edge of the back the `upper row of springs assume their normal `positions immediately upon being released of the weight by virtue of the bracing effect ofthe stays '2O and by virtue of the connection of the wire 14 with the end Vsprings of the row iin- `mediately beneath the upper Yrow of springs. It will thus be seen that the wire 14 and the stays 20 coact .to maintain the upper row of springs normally in `position against sagging.

Braces 21 connect .the upper and lower edges ofthe front frame, being secured thereto by means of suitable clips 22. rlfhese braces are designed to prevent an upward crowding ofthe lower edge of the front frame particularly when the frame is being .upholstered, the upholstering material being generally forced toward the top edge from the lower edge of the structure during the upholstering process. The braces 21 also serve to .prevent downward sagging of Athe upper ed'O'e of the vfront frame.

races 22 connect the upper edge of the rear frame with the lower ledge of the front frame, being secured to the frames by the clips 23 and 24, respectively, the connection of the braces 22 with the lower edge of the front frame being at substantially the same point of connection as the braces 21. The braces'22 prevent spreading or crowding of the upper edge of the rear frame during the upholstering process.

To reduce the quantity of upholstering material and to prevent upholstering material finding its way between the springs, I mount a resilient wire woven fabric sheet of material 25 over the inner ends of the springs and over the front frame, continuing the same up over the outer sides of the coils .of the vtop row of barrel-shaped springs, as

'thereo'ffand bymeans of clips 27 embracing the wires 26 and the front and back frames, `as shown, the mesh-sheet of material is secured to the structure. If desired, other clips 28 may be used to fasten the sheet to the upper edge of the front frame.

The .upper or outer convolutions of the springs may be connected together 'and to the upper edge ofthe front frame by clips 28, while clips 29 may connect the Aupper convolutions of the springs longitudinally of the structure. si

'What is claimed is:

1. In a spring struciure for the back of car seats or the like, a substantially vertical back frame, a substantially vertical front frame, superimposed rows of double conical springs extending forwardly from the back to the front frame and connected to the frames, a row of substantially'barrel shaped springs disposed over the aforesaid rows of springs, a wire connected to the latter springs intermediate their ends, and stay wires connected to said wire and to the lower vedge of the front frame to stay and prevent sagging of the rst mentioned wire or said upper row of barrel shaped springs.

2. In a spring structure for the back of car seats or the like, a back frame, a front frame, rows of horizontally disposed double conical springs between and connected to the frames, a row of horizontally disposed substantially barrel-shaped springs, arranged over the uppermost row of the aforesaid springs a wire connected to the .latter springs intermediate their ends, stay wires connected to said wire and to the lower edge of the front frame to stay and prevent sagging of the first mentioned wire or said upper row of barrel-shaped springs, and diagonally disposed stays between the front 'frame and the rear frame.

3. In a spring structure for the .back of car seats or the like, a back frame, a front frame, rows of double conical springs between the frames, a toprow of substantially barrel-shaped springs, a wire connected to the latter springs intermediate their ends, stay wires connected to said wires and to the lower edge of the front frame to stay and prevent sagging of the irst mentioned wire or said upper row of barrel-shaped springs, diagonally disposed stays between the front frame and therear frame, and stay wires yconnecting the upper and lower edges of the front frame.

4. In a spring structure, a front frame, a back frame, rows of horizontally disposed coiled springs between Athe frames, and means connecting a plurality of coils of each spring of 'the top row of springs so as to maintain ris the upper portions of such springs in an outwardly, curved, sprung condition, and thereby provide for a spring back structure having a relatively broad, rounded, resilient, upper edge.

5. In a spring structure for the backs of car seats or the like, a rear frame, a front frame, a row of substantially barrel-shaped springs connected to the upper edges of said frames, the coils of said springs extending in a direction transversely of the structure, means connected to the barrel-shaped springs to maintain them in a curved sprung condition and to give a relatively broad, rounded, upper edge to the spring structure.

6. In a spring structure for the backs of car seats, or the like, a rear frame, a front frame, a row of substantially barrel-shaped springs connected to the upper edges of said frames, the coils of said springs extending in a direction transversely of the structure, a Wire connected to a plurality of coils of said barrel shaped springs at the under sides of said barrel-shaped springs intermediate the ends of the latter, stay wires connected to said wire and to the lower edge of one of the frames to prevent sagging of the top edge of the structure, and other springs arranged between the said frames.

7. In a spring structure for the backs of car seats, or the like, a rear frame, a front frame, a row of substantially barrel-shaped springs connected to the upper edges of said frames, the coils of said springs extending inI a direction transversely of the structure, a wire connected to the under sides of said barrel-shaped springs intermediate the ends of the latter, stay wires connected to said wire and to the lower edge of one of the frames to prevent sagging of the top edge of the structure, other springs arranged between the said frames, bracing stays connected to the opposite side edges of the front frame, and bracing stays connecting the upper edge of the back frame with the lower edge of the front frame.l

8. In a spring structure, two spaced frames, rows of springs between the frames, means connected to one of the outermost rows of springs intermediate the ends of the latter to maintain the springs of such outermost rows in a sprung condition, and a stay connection between said means and one of the frames.

9. In a spring structure, two spaced frames, rows of springs between the frames, a wire connected to the springs of one row and having connection with the end springs of the adjacent row and terminating thereat, and a bracing stay connected toI said wire and to one of said frames.

10. In a spring structure, a front frame, a rear frame, substantially parallel rows of springs connected to said frames, the springs of the upper row being coiled and formed to provide a curved foundation for a resilient rounded upper edge of the structure ldownward and forwardly from the rear frame to the front frame and means connected to a plurality of intermediate coils of the upper row of springs to maintain the latter in a sprung condition.

1l. In a spring structure, two spaced frames, springs arranged between the frames, bracing stays connecting the frames, bracing stays connecting the opposite edges of one of the frames, and relatively closely woven metallic meshed sheet of material stretched over one of the frames, a wire interlaced with the meshes of said material at the opposite edges thereof, and clips engaging the Jframes and the last mentioned wires whereby to secure said material in stretched condition over the frames.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DESIRE I-I. VAN HOVE. 

